Oklahoma @ Los Angeles 1/27 12:30 PM PST

[Mamba Mentality]

Biggest win of the season. Could be season defining in the grand scheme of things. We have a good chance of winning out this week, have some pretty piss poor teams coming up on the schedule.

[Sedale Threatt]

That's why it kills me when people say he can't pass as good as lebron.

He can, but he's not the natural play-maker LeBron is. Kobe is excellent for a shooting guard, LeBron is a de facto point guard.

[kblo247]

Bron was a pg in high school. It's very natural to him to be one because he was drafted to be one

[Jakay]

That's why it kills me when people say he can't pass as good as lebron.

He can, but he's not the natural play-maker LeBron is. Kobe is excellent for a shooting guard, LeBron is a de facto point guard.

He is actually like a modern day Magic, only more of a freak athlete. It's just ridiculous.

[vmor]

Finally - a great balance 2 games in a row!
Fun to watch, and likely for players to play as well. Nice TEAM basketball. This is the Kobe many of us were hoping to see for years, believing he could be that "Kobe Magic" whenever he decided to. It makes the game easier for everybody - including better shots for himself.

[dockingsched]

That's why it kills me when people say he can't pass as good as lebron.

this is also what makes those super high FG' attempt games so so frustrating.

[StarneyBinston]

One important thing to me: this game was REALLY enjoyable to watch! I hadn't had that much fun watching a Lakers game in a long time. The players looked focused and like they actually had fun themselves (sort of like during Bernie's tenure), and it really translated in their effort. Hope we can keep this up!!!

[Kilroy]

Thoroughly enjoyable game... And a huge step forward for us.
I have mixed feelings about it a little bit though, because of Westbrooks just horrible shooting night. He makes a couple of those wide open shots and it's a different ball game. We'll have to do better on him.

I think Clark did a solid job on Durant, I just hope the reason for the bad performance was that we were in their head.

[Doormatt]

well its not exactly uncommon for westbrook to take and miss some questionable shots

[KB24TBOTB]

well its not exactly uncommon for westbrook to take and miss some questionable shots

Works out fine since when ever he plays us he hits everything. Only makes sense that he has a westbrook like game against us for once

[Doormatt]

westbrook is interesting. it seemed like he was getting better the past 2 years, and now this year hes basically stalled. hes having an awfully poor year scoring (22ppg on 51TS%/44eFG%), and he seemingly has not figured out just how good durant is. it would be one thing if he was actually a good scorer, but he isnt, so when he takes these ridiculous shots it really makes you wonder.

[The Skyhook]

That's why it kills me when people say he can't pass as good as lebron.

this is also what makes those super high FG' attempt games so so frustrating.

I always used to say I wish he would always stick to being that decoy because team defenses will always adjust to where Kobe has the ball and it frees up guys. It works both ways though. Yesterday we saw guys working hard to move without the ball and make those timely cuts. There are a games where guys will just stand there. It wouldn't surprise me if Kobe goes on a scoring outburst soon but I wish he would play the way he has been on a more consistent basis. This way he can pick his spots whenever we need him to take on the scoring load.

[Baby Bop]

cant believe i missed this cuz of work. can i watch the full replay anywhere?

[Bandwagon1]

cant believe i missed this cuz of work. can i watch the full replay anywhere?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC5Pb3dx5xM[/youtube]

[Kilroy]

I haven't always been a fan of Kobe's shoot first and always style of play...
But I still say there's logic to him taking that role this season, especially under D'Antoni. This team lacks scorers. And they have the individual talent to shine no matter what Kobe's doing. I think on paper, D'Antoni's system needed Kobe to shoot more, especially outside to try to spread the floor for Pau and Dwight. And with Nash on the team, I think the assumption was that he'd take the facilitation duties off Kobe's plate.
So I don't fault Kobe this season.
I know the argument could be made that he should have recognized the detriment he was having on the team earlier, but I don't think it was his decision in the first place. I think it took the whole team basically going off the reservation, to get it changed. They're playing a system that seems to have been devised by Kobe and Pau, and everyone is feeding off of it.
Basically I think if everyone was playing like we all expected them to play, Kobe shooting a lot wouldn't matter. If Nash was Nash from last year, Kobe wouldn't have to be such a facilitator. If Dwight was the dominant interior force he was in the pass, Kobe wouldn't have to focus on scoring and defending as much. If Pau was half the player he was in the Olympics, even more facilitation duties and scoring duties would be off his plate. But since nobody has been terribly effective, Kobe needs to facilitate more.
I'm not going to blame him for that approach this year, but I'm glad he threw away the playbook and found a way to help the team be effective.
Good for him. Good for them. Good for us.
Now let's just build on it and stop harping on the past.

[chales_zed]

Pau has been as effective as he's allowed to be. Dude is still a stud. He's averaging 17/7/2.4 playing off of the bench in the last 5 games.

Not his fault he has a giant man baby named Dwight who can only operate exclusively in the low-post thereby forcing him out of position, and even more so because of D'Antoni.

[AcecardZ]

Pau has been as effective as he's allowed to be. Dude is still a stud. He's averaging 17/7/2.4 playing off of the bench in the last 5 games.

Not his fault he has a giant man baby named Dwight who can only operate exclusively in the low-post thereby forcing him out of position, and even more so because of D'Antoni.

If Pau can't be blamed for sucking when forced to play out of position it's not fair to do the same to Dwight.